At a special meeting of the Common Council on Friday night, the members of the Council present voted to enact the new sidewalk law establishing a sidewalk improvement district.
Three members of the Council--Art Frick (First Ward), Malachi Walker (Fourth Ward), and Ryan Wallace (Third Ward)--were absent from the meeting, but those present voted 6 to 2 in support of the law. The two councilmembers from the Fifth Ward voted against enacting the law. Vicky Daskaloudi prefaced her no vote by saying she was "fairly new in the city" and speaking of "so many references in the past about why it was handled this way or that way." Before he voted no, Dominic Merante said he still had reservations, predicted the law was "going to make dangerous sidewalks even worse," and questioned if enacting the law would satisfy the expectations of the Department of Justice.
The entire meeting, which lasted just a little more than six minutes, can viewed here on YouTube.
Enacting the law required a simple majority of six votes, which it received. It must now be signed by Mayor Kamal Johnson. It remains to be seen if there will be a petition to force a referendum on the law.
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One of my alders couldn't even bother to join this important meeting by Zoom? Really, Ryan? Do you not want your "constituents" to know if you support this law? What the hell?
ReplyDeleteBill - I was unable to be at this meeting because I was at a conference for work (my full time job). I know you don't understand those words, and I won't belay the readers of Gossips explaining it to you.
DeleteYou had more than enough representation there with Amber. You also know where I stood on this from the previous vote and for what reason.
The absenteeism by some of the council members is shameful, especially when they can use zoom.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I hope someone starts a petition, I'll sign. A referendum may also help bring better attention to the off-year election when the mayor and council are up for re-election. Lack of attention is how we got here in the first place
Shameful and sadly though, Jack, unavoidable given the number of meetings I have made in the course of a year in office. I invite you and others to get off the sidelines and perhaps run for office, too. I'll happily pay attention to your attendance records as well.
DeleteWhere do we sign up to get our sidewalks fixed? Is it first come first serve ? Is there a waiting list or will this be accomplished in some sort of predesignated order? Who decides what properties will have their sidewalks repaired and when? Who will fix them? Will it be put out to bid?
ReplyDeleteWill more than one contractor be involved? Seems to be a lot of unanswered questions.
Some these questions, those dealing with prioritizing not the execution, are answered in the law itself.
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